An Unusually Happy Day

Towards lunch this morning, our group manager called all of us for a meeting at the conference room. The manager for legal and HR were there so we immediately knew what the announcement was.

We were anticipating the retrenchment since early last year but it was only today that we got the official word. Weird but when the announcement was finally done, there was nary a trace of the expected reactions – cying spells or heart-wrenching appeals for retention. Everyone was in fact happy to be retrenched. Those who were not volunteered to be paid. Haha!

I was hoping I was included but well, that would have been too much to ask.

Moingon na unya si Lord, “Sobra na ka ha!”

34 years!

Dear Papa and Mama,

Congratulations on your 34th wedding anniversary. It most certainly is no mean feat considering everything that you went through just to keep the marriage and the family intact.

We thank you for all the love and support. We could not have asked for better parents than you. You are always there for the three of us for our trivial activities and most specially our milestones.

I know that you are happy with the way things have turned out for your three lovely (ehem) daughters.

It is my prayer that you will have more years with us for you to enjoy the rewards of all your sacrifices.

We love you!

Haw-haw da karabaw!

How am I gonna tell my boss that I am resigning next month?

When is the best time for this?

Where? (He’s got meetings lined up till Saturday)

Who will replace me?

Last month, I already told my boss that I am resigning very soon and the circumstances behind it. I just did not tell him it’s gonna be in three months. He assumed I will be staying until September or at least until my promotion which was set for this month or next.

I should be tendering my resignation next week but at the rate things are running around here, it would be heartless and inconsiderate of me to drop the bomb at a time when things are going outrageously hectic. Haaay!

God, please give me that ‘perfect time’ within this week or I run the risk of jeopardizing our schedules.

Name Game

A few days back, I chanced upon Bo Sanchez’ article titled Your Name Is A Clue To Your Calling. It encourages everyone to “Find The Meaning Of Your Name—And You May Find The Meaning Of Your Life.”

Inspired by that, I hurriedly googled our names and this was what I got.

HUBBY –soldier

Need i say more?

WIFEY- friend, vision of beauty

Hmn…without batting an eyelash, I know that I am a good friend. Vision of beauty? Oh, ask hubby! Hehe

BABY - 1st name :to conquer
2nd name: resembles God

It is my prayer that our son “conquers” the world, putting to good use the talents God has given him. May he touch more people in his lifetime and make a positive difference in the people around him.

How about you? What is the meaning of your name?

The Holy Week

Anak,

We spent holy week at your grandparents’ home. Lolo Nick and Lola Day were very happy because it’s been years since we last spent holy week with them. The past 3 years, we have been visiting papa during lent.

We arrived there on Thursday around lunch time. Lola’s feast of yummy food was already waiting for us. Kuya Kryll, Kuya Ken2 and Kuya In-in were also waiting for you. Mama is thankful that you are close to your cousins despite the fact that you seldom see each other. You spent the entire afternoon playing while mama took a nap.

Friday, we went to church and I was really impressed that you managed to stand up as the very lengthy seven last words and gospel were read. As is the tradition during Good Friday, we lined up to pay homage to the crucified Christ. We then joined the procession around the plaza after mass. We got to see mama’s old friends and some relatives in church but it is sad that only a few people were there. When mama was younger, the church was always full on Good Friday.

Saturday was spent preparing food for your great grandma’s death anniversary on Easter Sunday. Nanay Eda, as we fondly call her, is Lolo Nick’s mother. She single-handedly raised Lolo Nick and Lola Isay because Tatay Benito died when Lolo Nick was only four months old. She lived with us during the last years of her life and she used to give all of us grandchildren P5 each everytime she harvests her coconuts. We always looked forward to that because that was the only time we’d have extra baon. Haha!

Sunday morning, we finished preparing food for Nanay Eda’s death anniversary. Mama was delighted that you liked the fried chicken she cooked. Tita Chiq baked cakes and you and Kuya Kryll had a blast licking off the left over chocolate frosting. The death anniversary lunch was held at Lola Isay’s house. A number of our relatives were there and you again had a good time playing with your cousins. Mama, meanwhile was busy catching up with all the older relatives.

I pray that you will carry on traditions mama has grown up with. I pray that you will continue to value and form deep relationships with your relatives. As I repeatedly say, remember that when life becomes cruel, wherever you may be, whatever success you have achieved, you have all these people to come home to.

Pathway to Achievement

The best way to figure out how to do something is to do it. Make the commitment to make it happen, and you'll start working your way through the details.

Don't get bogged down speculating on how something will come about. Instead, get started on the best approach you have, and follow the path wherever it may lead.

When traveling along a road, you can never see the entire road at once, but that doesn't really matter. What does matter is successfully making your way through the portion of the road that is right in front of you.

Work through the things that are to be done right now, and you'll put yourself in position to handle the things that come along later. Travel down this section of the road, and you'll then be able to travel the next section, and the next.

If you put all your energy into worrying about every little detail of how to reach your goal, you won't ever get started. Instead, put your energy into reminding yourself why you have chosen to go there, and then do whatever it takes along the way. You'll never know precisely how something is to be done until you actually do it.

So go ahead, get started, and discover your own unique pathway to achievement.

=== Ralph Masterson

Weekend Bonding

Vince and I were supposed to go down to the city to meet my sisters and cousins for a weekend of rest and recreation. But the moving up ceremony dragged until 8:30pm which was too late for us to get a ride so the girls went up to join us instead.

They brought lots of food including the spaghetti which I asked them to make. Manai Layling and Manai Riza bought cake for Vince. We ate, drank tequila and chatted until after midnight then woke up early on Sunday to join the Palm Sunday mass at the local parish. We all agreed the priest gave an excellent homily (ikaw ba yan Bo?).

While the rest of the world was glued to the Pacquiao fight, we walked around the camp, took a lot of pictures and stopped over at the Bungalow for some burger and fries. We then bought freshly baked loaf bread as pasalubongs for our folks.

We walked home for lunch and then had a short videoke session using my sister’s magic sing despite the heavy downpour. We were all rolling with laughter as we created foolish dance moves and belted out ala-Mariah. Bantog kusog ulan! Hehe

‘twas a lovely weekend. If only I can have more of these.

Moving up, Moving Out

Dear Anak,

This afternoon will be your moving up ceremony from Nursery to K1. Mama can sense that you are quite excited about this. You’ve been looking forward to the practices at the social hall and asking everyday if it is already your ‘graduation’.

Mama has asked Tita Chiq and Tita Layling to make spaghetti for our celebration later. We will be joining them, Tita Fran and Tita Riza in the city after the ceremony.

A few months back, you’ve been bugging mama to move you to the big school already. Maybe you got ideas from tv what a school should look like, way different from your school now which actually resembles a house. You also want it to be farther, unlike your current school which is just right across our house. Haha!

Worry not, my dear, because in a few months, you will be moving to a bigger school. In fact, we are moving to a new place again. I know you don’t understand what is going on yet. But Mama and Papa promise that it will be one big, exciting and happy adventure.

Beer-day!

It was my birthday last week.

I woke up at 2am to check if hubby sent an SMS. Our last text marathon was lunch of the previous day so I worried why he did not text me that night. Right then, I got a call from him asking me to open the door. Yipee!

Vince woke up when he heard his papa and they both greeted me with hugs and kisses – the best way to start my day.

For lunch, I bought food for the office, along with Ma’am Baby, a colleague who was also celebrating her birthday. Hubby then joined us for lunch which caused a commotion in the office as most of my officemates were eager to meet him for the first time. Hehe! Murag artista! One of my bestfriends, Yenyen, who was also celebrating her bday the following day, joined us and bought ice cream.

Dinner was spent with my sisters in the city. Then we headed for the videoke bar and rented a room. We had so much fun singing, dancing and drinking tequila. Vince was a revelation. He knew the songs his papa were singing and insists that he sing with his old man. Hehe When he was not singing, he was on the floor playing with the new toy papa picked up for him at the mall earlier.

After a couple of hours, we dropped my sisters and Vince at home and then hubby and I headed for the spa for a relaxing massage. Good thing we got the VIP/Couple room so after the massage, we dozed off. When we woke up at 1am, we were the only customers left. Haha kalooy sa receptionist nga naghulat!

It was a very special birthday not only because I celebrated it with the people who matter (the only ones missing were my papa and mama who just sent me a very generous gift) but also because I am moving on to my next adventure in a few months. I cannot thank the Lord enough for the outpouring of blessings.